Centrifugal casting apparatus



Jan. 24, i950 G. A. RuBlssow 2,495,483

CENTRIFUGAL lCASTING APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1946 ATTORNEY.

, Patented Jan. 24, 1950v UNITED CENTRIFUGAL CASTING APPARATUS George A. Rubissow, New York. N. Y. Application May 9, 1946, Serial No. 668,439 2 Claims. (Cl. 22-65) This invention relates to a casting machine. It will be described in particular relation to a machine for casting iron, aluminum, or other metals, but it is to be understood that this particular description is illustrative and does not constitute a limitation of the invention.

It is an object of this invention to produce castings that are dense, uniform, free of imperfections such as voids, and substantially free of gas or air inclosures.

Another object of the invention is to produce a casting under the influence of centrifugal force about a plurality of axes.

Another object of the invention is to construct a, casting machine adapted to subject the casting mold to centrifugal force about one axis and selectively to centrifugal force about a plurality of angularly arranged axes.

Another object is to provide a centrifugal castlng machine with novel and readily removable molds Another object of the invention is to construct casting apparatus Well adapted to withstand the forces generated by the rotation ofI one or a plurality of molds about one or a plurality of axes.

A particular object of the invention is to construct casting apparatus having a. rotating ladle and pouring gate in which no metal will remain after pouring.

Another object is to provide a system for such machinery. A

The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood, howeverVthat the drawing is for purposes of illustration only and is not intended as a dennition of the limits of the invention, reference for this latter purpose being had primarily to the appended claims.

The drawing isa vertical sectional view through machinery of the type described embodying the foregoing and other principles of the invention, as an illustrative embodiment.

Referring to the numerals of the drawing, a frame I0, which may conveniently be a massive casting of suitable shape, or a series of intertting and mutually supported castings, supports upon its base a standard II. This standard has a flange I2 which is bolted to the frame II] and is provided With"a bearing seat I3 and an annular stud I4 that serves at its top to mount the bearing I5. A bearing I6 is mounted upon the seat I3. The standard has a bore I1 that extends throughnovel lubricating out its height and is reduced in size once at I8 and again at I9. A cross bore 20, shown in this instance to be near the top of the standard, is also provided.

Within the largest part of the bore is a piston 2I provided with appropriate sealing rings 22 and a two-Way check.y valve of ball type 23. This check valve is of novel construction and isdesigned to assure the supply of oil under pressure through the piston to parts needing lubrication. A hole 25 is drilled through the piston and the ends are sealed by plugs 26 which have passage Aways 21. These passage ways are aligned with drillings 28, 29 in the piston, one of which opens into the cylinder at one end of the piston and the other of which opens into the cylinder at the other end thereof. The piston is moved by oil from a source of pressure, the oil under pressure being admitted selectively, through the action of an appropriate valve, to the top or the bottom of the piston. When the oil under pressure is admitted to the bottom of the piston, it passes through the drilling 28 and the passage in one plug 26 to the chamber 25 where it forces the ball 23 into sealing vengagement with the other plug, opening a line 29 which is provided, preferably by drilling, in the piston 2 I, and which extends through the piston rod 30 to the space in the bore I1 above the end of the rod.

The rod 30 is reduced for a part of its length in order to minimize friction, but is appropriately sealed against the escape of fliid by a machined section 3| and a ring 32. The bore I1 receives the oil under pressure from the line within the rod and transmits Ait through an appropriate opening, or through a pressure valve 33 that may be seated inthe upper end of the bore. The oil thus delivered goes to the bearings I5 and through a passage way 34 to a clutch chamber and bearings.

When the oil is delivered under pressure to the upper end of the piston, the ball 23 is rolled to the other end of its chamber so that oil from the drilling 29 i'lnds its Way to the points of lubrication. The normal operation of the apparatus therefore accomplishes the oiling of the parts.

Mounted upon the frame above the standard is a funnel 35 that is bolted through an appropriate ange 36 to the frame and which is interiorly lined with a nre resistant refractory material 31.

Beneath the funnel 35, rotatably and axially mounted above the standard, is a ladle and pouring gate 38--42, of which, for convenience of description, the part 38 will be called the ladle and lthe part 42 the gate.v

This ladle embodies a number of novel conceptions which contribute to the combination as a whole, and including some that may also be employed alone. Being mounted axially of the standard, its rotation is concentric with the axis thereof. The refractory wall 39 of the ladle is conical with the smaller end at the top. The angle of the cone is such that at 1 the rotational speeds employed the centrifugal force is directed outwardly through the opening 40 in the refractory base 4! and into the gate 42 v which projects in the direction of the centrifugal force to which the molten material is subjected axis of the standard. By means ofthis construction the molten material, or casting material, poured through the funnell is received in the ladle and directed by centrifugal force as well as by gravity through the gate 42. In preferred practice the rotation is started and the machine is brought up to speed before the casting material is admitted to the ladle.

Ihe ladle comprises a metal pot or cup 43 upon which is bolted a ring 44 that serves to hold the lining 39 in place, to clamp the pot firmly to the rotatable member 45, which is supported upon a flange-bearing cap 46 which is in turn supported by appropriate roller bearings l5, and by removal to permit an easy assemblage and dismantling of the parts `of the ladle and gate. Appropriate bolts 41 connect the member 45 to the bearing cap 46. Bolted or otherwise fixedly secured to a flange 48 on the member 45 is an annulus 49 that serves as a seat for bearing i6 and as a support for the ring gear 50 by means of which the annulus is rotated. A drive shaft I and a pinion gear 52, which is in mesh with ring gear 50, serve to rotate the several parts 49, 48, 46, 45 and 43, and other parts attached thereto, which together constitute the rotating headof the machine. lt is by this means that the ladle is rotated about the axis of the standard. In ordinary practice this mounting will be vertical, thus providing rotation about a vertical axis. Rotation of the mold about a horizontal axis is provided by other means operable in combination with the means have just been described..

In the drawing, only one` gate and mold support are shown, but in preferred practice a plurality thereof twill be' provided, mounted in identical supports radially with respect to the ladle, and symmetrically with respect to each other, at angles which provide dynamic balance. Thus, two molds, three molds, or four molds, placed respectively at 180, 120, or 90 degrees from each other, may be provided, each of which will be supplied from the ladle through an appropriate gate similar to gate 42. These mold supports comprise a member 6l? having an outer annulus 6| that serves as a seat for the ball bearing 62 and for attachment by means of bolts 63 to the annulus 44, and having an inner tubular support 64 within which is mounted the gate 42. being attached thereto by a ange 65 and bolts 66. The annulus 61 is bolted to the outer face of the member 69 and serves to hold the bearing 62 in position.

Ihe ballbearing S2 having an outer bearing ring 62A mounted in the annulus 6| and having an inner bearing ring 62B upon which the mold support is mounted, thus the whole weight iof the mold-support together with the mold being supported by thev bearing system 62A-82-62B.

. during the rotation of the standard around the By means of the structure which has Just been described, the rotation, from any suitable source of power, gear Suthrough the pinion 52 and with the ring gear the members 49. 48, 60, 44, and 43 about the axis of the standard. The rotation wil be centrifugal and the filling of the several molds will be facilitated. A gravitational eiect is observed in such circumstances so that the molten metal rst admitted to the mold will tend to fill first the bottom portion of the mold.

Mold support 1U is telescoped about the tubular portion 64 ofthe member 60. An annulus 1| is bolted to the member 10 and is provided with projecting arms 12, 13 with retainers 'i4 adapted to iit in bayonet slots 'l5 in the periphery of a mold 76. The mold is thus demountable and may be easily attached to or removed from the machine; The members 10 and 'H constitute a .mold support which is carried by the ball bearing 8 2 which is in turn supported by the head or member 6m The mold and its support are rotatably mounted upon the head about a horizontal axis through the gate 42. It is desired that on some occasions the mold be not rotated about this axis and novel means are provided whereby the rotation about the horizontal axis is made selective. Before proceeding to the description of that novel mechanism, the novel mold itself will be described more fully.

'Ihe word mold, as employed herein, includes the mold casing 11, which is shown, and the mold itself, which is omitted from the drawing. Mold forms may be of infinitely various shapes and constructions, none of which need be particularly represented. The mold, in its preferred form, comprises a casing 11 having at one end an internal annular iiange 18 upon which rests a base 19 having a cooperating ange 80 and at the center thereof a' screw threaded opening adapted to receive a suitable plug 8i. The mold maybe removed from its support and placed upon its base it, where it is prepared in the usual manner by the use of patterns and sand or any other methods known to the art of casting. 'I'he top t2 of the mold is preferably mounted, v permanently or removably, upon the annulus of the outer shell of the gate 42. When the prepared mold is mounted by means of the bayonet slots 15 upon the arms 12, 73, the'mold is completed and is ready for the receipt of its charge. Preferably, the gate 42 projects through the cover 82 and into the interior of the mold. The cover is held resiliently in closed position against the rim of the annulus i1 by springs 83 which are mounted in. a sleeve 84 from which a stud d5 projects and is carried by the cover 82. The sleeve 8d is received within a hole 86 in the member li and thus compels the cover B2 to rotate with the support. When the mold is put in position, it is done so against the power of the springs which thereafter not only seal the mold, ibiut tend to keep the bayonet joint in locked posi- A clutch 9B is comprisedof a sleeve 9| concentric with the standard H and rotatably mounted thereabout by means of bearings 92, 93, 94. The sleeve is provided with a gear 95 which is in mesh with lthe gear196 on support 10. Mounted on the inside of the clutch member 90 are two sets of clutch plates 91' and 9B, one set of which is well separated from the other set. A set of clutch plates 99 are mounted on the cap 46 in a position to be engaged with the clutch plates 91.

of shaft 5i will rotate the ring A set of clutch plates |00 are mounted on the standard Il in position to be engaged by clutch plates 98. A cross arm IBI is carried at the upper end of rod 30 and projects through the cross bore 20 in the standard. The cross bore and cross arm are of such relative size that the cross arm can move within the bore sufficiently to force one or the other of the sets of clutches into engagement. When oil under pressure is admitted beneath the piston 2 I, the clutches 91, 99 are forced into engagement and the annular clutch support 9| is compelled to rotate with the head so that no relative motion occurs between the gear 95 and gear 96. Under these circumstances, there is rotation about the vertical axis only. When, by appropriate valve action, the oil under pressure is admitted to the top of the piston, the piston is depressed and the cross arm IUI acting through annular member |02 engages the clutch plates 98, |00, releases the clutch plates 91, 99 and xes the sleeve 9| and the gear 95 with respect to the standard, and the gear. Under these circumstances the support 10 is compelled to rotate upon the gear 95 and the mold is given rotation about the'vertical axis of the standard and rotation about the horizontal axis of the'gate. When the cross arm is in-mid position, neither clutch group is engaged.

Another advantage of simple construction of parts, few -ofwvhich require refinement to close tolerances.

Another advantage of the invention is in the mounting of a ladle rotatably between a funnel and a support, whichfor convenience may be called a standard regardless of its shape, and

in the detachable mounting of a mold about a gate projecting from the la'dle.' This mounting of the ladle rotatably' between the support and the funnel or other charging means is a great improvement over prior art constructions.

Still another advantage of the invention lies in the novel construction of the removable mold casing whereby the mold and a completed casting therein can be readily pushed out of the casing by sliding end plate or base 19 through the cylindrical casing part 11 after the latter has been detached from the machine. shims in they form of rings between anges 18 and 80, or in the form of plates between member 19 or B2 and the mold, the mold casing may be adapted for receiving molds of different sizes while at the same time insuring proper compression of the mold and preventing movement thereof within the casing during the casting operation.

Although only a single embodiment of the present invention has herein been illustrated and described, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes may be made, particularly in the design and arrangement of the parts and in the materials used, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. For a denition of the limits of the invention, reference is had primarily to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A known centrifugal casting machine having a non-rotating machine support, a vertical shaft, a machine frame rotatably mounted on said shaft, means to rotate said machine frame about said vertical shaft, a central main-pouring gate mounted on said machine frame coaxially the invention is in the.

By providing with said shaft and provided at its top with an entrance opening and at its bottom part with a distributing plate, a mold casing mounted rotatably about and coaxially with an axis of rotation provided therefore at an angle to a vertical line, at least one exit channel per each said mold casing being provided in said bottom part between said central main pouring gate and said .rotation provided therefore lsaid mold casing being lprovided in said bottom mold casing, in combination with a mold casing supporting collar like bearing cup mounted on the top of that surface of said mold-casing which is closest to said vertical shaft rigidly in respect to said frame and coaxially with'said axis of rotation, a bearing means mounted on one of its bearing rings on said bearing cup by means of a bearing-cup-holding-member, a mold casing support mounted on another bearing ring of said' bearing means, an interlocking means provided on said mold casing support to interlock and to unlock said mold casing with said mold casing support, a rst gear mounted rigidly on said mold-casing supporting collar like cupcoaxially with said axis of rotation, a second gear mounted on said machine support coaxially with said shaft, said second gear being in mesh with said first gear, thereby when said machine frame is rotated about said vertical shaft, said mold casing is'rotated about said shaft.

2; A known centrifugal ing a non-:rotating machine support, a vertical shaft, a machine frame .rotatably mounted on `said shaft, mear1s to rotate said machine frame about said vertical shaft, a central main-pouring gate mounted on said machine frame coaxially with said shaft and provided at its top with'an entrance opening and at its bottom part With a distributing plate, a mold casing mounted rotatably about and coaxially with an axis of at an angle to a vertical line, at least onev exit channel per each part between said central main pouring gate and said mold casing, in combination with a mold casing supporting collar like bearing cup mounted rigidly in respect to said frame and c'oaXi'ally with said axis of rotation, a bearing means mounted on one of its bearing rings on said t bearing cup by means of a bearing-cup-holdingmember, a mold casing support mounted on another bearing ring of said bearing means, an interlocking means provided on said mold casing support to interlock and to unlock said mold casing With said mold casing support, a first gear mounted rigidly on said mold casing support coaxially with said axis of rotation, a second gear mounted on said machine support coaxially with said shaft, said second gear being in mesh with said first gear, gear interlocking clutch means to rigidly interlock and to unlock said second gear in respect to said machine support, said vertical shaft being a hollow shaft having an internal cylinder bore coaxial with the axis of said shaft and having a reciprocable piston mounted therein, a hydraulic pump system interconnected with said bore, said piston being operativelyl interconnected with a plurality of clutch disks to engage and to disengage said clutch means by actuating and stopping to actuate said hydraulic pump, thereby moving to and fro said piston in said bore. f

GEORGE A. RUBISSOW.

(References on following page) casting machine hav- 7 A 3 REFERENCES CITED Number Name Daate 1,998,897 Kay Apr. 2 1935 mThef llaljlowhlltg l'ferences are of record in the 2,117,852 Pearmam May 17' 1938 e s pa n 2,140,204 Gnmn -1-- Dec.13, 193s UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,172,798 I dttmann Sept. 12, 1939 2,174,994 Taylor Qct. 3, 1939 $52229 Weslggf sepfem, 2,433,065A Rubissow Dec.2a,1s4v

1,320,910 Perry Nov. 4, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,341,670 Powell June 1, 1920 1,474,432 Gnnson Nov. 2o, 1923 9.Numb3e1r97 Greggtign '32221809 1,721,115 Harrington July 16, 1929 1,817,012 Merle Aug` 4. 1931 511,183 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1939 

